tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30412896.post115604321581769962..comments2024-01-05T02:53:03.358-06:00Comments on American Zombie: The world isn't flat, but Thom Friedman's mind may beJason Brad Berryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18421813599753848735noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30412896.post-5613965715801327162008-01-04T23:41:00.000-06:002008-01-04T23:41:00.000-06:00I think Gringo was on the right track with their c...I think Gringo was on the right track with their comment. Whether or not the theory holds up in the harsh light of empirical evidence is debatable, but I think Friedman's point is that countries with a McDonalds are so tied up in the 'global supply chain' that the disincentives to go to war outweigh the positives. As opposed to simply wanting to get fat on fast food. He revises this in "The World Is Flat" to the "Dell Supply Chain World Peace" theory, which he hypothesises is so complex and involved that countries can't risk damaging their place in the chain by going to war.<BR/><BR/>I think your review was good; I however chose to interpret the book in a more hypothetical light. A perfectly competitive, Adam Smith-style global free market of the sort Friedman suggests could possibly function in a world where the population is educated and empowered, where there is universal health care, a perfectly flexible labour force and corruption is routed out and exposed (but how likely is this?) I too have read J Perkins' book, and whereas Friedman preaches an ideal, Perkins exposes how this ideal has been twisted and highjacked by corrupted, selfish groups and individuals.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00289445360820713067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30412896.post-30271826877605277052007-04-10T14:43:00.000-05:002007-04-10T14:43:00.000-05:00I may be mistaken here, but I thought the golden a...I may be mistaken here, but I thought the golden arches theory was that two countries that both had McDonalds wouldn't go to war with each other. The idea being that each country has developed to a point where they look toward peaceful, democratic, and economically manipulated means of resolving their differences. The corollary to this theory would be that a McDonald country is left with violence as an only option when dealing with non-McDonalds developed countries. <BR/>Either way, I don't buy it. International government interactions are largely about the have's communicating with each other, and rarely has anything to do with the dispossessed. They're just caught in the crossfire.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30412896.post-1156616769744743212006-08-26T13:26:00.000-05:002006-08-26T13:26:00.000-05:00i keep thinking of a line in Perkins' book, which ...i keep thinking of a line in Perkins' book, which he learned from the Suar tribe in Ecuador, and wrote a separate book about - "the world is as you dream it". what kind of world do we really want for ourselves and our children? what kind of new orleans do we want? <BR/><BR/>i think the biggest challenge here is getting everyone to agree on the same dream. but it is inspiring to think that change is within our reach and possible - if we can dream it. we just need some serious dreamers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30412896.post-1156374076942979742006-08-23T18:01:00.000-05:002006-08-23T18:01:00.000-05:00fuckin eh'...that review is right on. A little to...fuckin eh'...that review is right on. A little too much venom, but right on. <BR/><BR/>The one thing I forgot to bring up about the Golden arches theory is that he conveniently leaves the country that invented McDonalds out of the theory. <BR/><BR/>McD's was founded in 54 right after America was wrapping up the Korean War. We went on to Vietnam, Gulf War 1, Gulf War 2....Panama invasion is potential qualifier...and hell, let's throw in the War on Drugs as the special sauce. <BR/><BR/>Let's also include the British Faulkland Islands excursion, as I'm sure the Brits were feasting on Filet o' Fish while watching the RAF blow the hell out of Argentine warships on the telly.<BR/><BR/>Funny how he excluded those incidencts of conflict resolution when formulating the Golden Arches theory.Jason Brad Berryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18421813599753848735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30412896.post-1156368681542138312006-08-23T16:31:00.000-05:002006-08-23T16:31:00.000-05:00Check out Matt Taibbi's review of The World is Fla...Check out Matt Taibbi's review of The World is Flat. It is not to be missed.<BR/><BR/>http://www.nypress.com/18/16/news&columns/taibbi.cfmjeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00286740961016501208noreply@blogger.com